Meet our Team

Patricia Alvarado

Director & Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor

My experience comes from various schools of thoughts, through a multicultural lens that includes Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Solution Focused Treatment utilizing a strengths-based approach.

I am a licensed professional clinical counselor in the state of California and a licensed mental health counselor in the state of New York. I received my Master’s of Arts in Counseling from Loyola Marymount University in California and have extensive training in crisis intervention and trauma treatment working with Victims of Crime, within community mental health agencies, and private practice.

I explore situations in the here and now in order to provide a listening ear to understand your needs. I have experience working with women’s issues, relationships, crisis intervention, trauma focused treatment, anxiety, depression, mindfulness, substance abuse, and parenting. My areas of expertise include exploring trauma as well as parent/child relationships. Each can be unique on their own or intertwined together as trauma (generational, etc.) can have an affect in the way that we parent. My work aims to understand the underlying concerns that are causing stressful situations and mal-adaptive behaviors. Through active listening, approaching things with empathy, and from a non-judgmental standpoint, my hope is that we can work together to help create trust within the therapeutic relationship.

The experiences that I have gained volunteering on the Suicide Prevention Hotline, various shelters in Los Angeles including the Downtown Women’s Shelter, and my experience within community/mental health allow me to offer various perspectives and see things from a different lens. This creates an opportunity for creative interventions that allow us to truly experience change within the therapeutic relationship.

Qualifications

Trainings & Techniques

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)
Acute Traumatic Incident Processing (A-TIP)
Critical Incident Desensitization (CID)
Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Positive Parenting Strategies (Triple P)
Incredible Years for Children and Families
Seeking Safety
Brief Response to Crisis (BRC/CORS)/Crisis Oriented Recovery Services
MBSR-T/Stressed Teens Mindfulness Program
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
Problem Solving Treatment (PST) for Depression
Motivational Interviewing

Professional Practice

Clinical Supervisor with Beacon Health Options
Counselor with The College of Westchester
Clinical Therapist with Crespo Mental Health
Lead Clinical Therapist at USC’s Violence Intervention Program
Clinical Therapist with Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services
Psychotherapist with California Victims of Crime Program
Counselor on the Suicide Prevention Hotline
Private Practice

Connect with Patricia

Patricia and I have been colleagues in the mental health field for several years and she is the first person I call when I need to consult about a tough case I may have. Throughout the years I have seen Patricia be a consistent positive force in this field. Patricia’s warm and inviting aura and compassion for others is only a small glimpse of the therapeutic toolbox she owns, which truly sets her apart from others. I admire her ability to navigate so effortlessly through this toolbox while working with complex cases. Patricia’s passion for her career and desire to help her clients is unwavering and it is evident not only through the progress her clients make, but also through her efforts to constantly learn and broaden her skills. Patricia is without a doubt a future leader in this field and I am excited to continue watching her flourish.

Patricia is truly one of a kind. Her work ethic, professionalism and motivation is extremely admirable! She is an expert in her field, is well-rounded and knows how to connect with others. She is very supportive and will help you navigate any issues you may be going through.

Patty has been absolutely clutch. Having her as my therapist has helped me in a plethora of ways. From specific techniques to cope with stresses and anxieties to EMDR for healing of past traumas – Patty has had my back. I am tremendously thankful for her.

Patty, has truly helped me experience growth as a woman and adult. I’m proud of how far I’ve come and her strong and guidance has been an intricate part of the process.

Patricia is extremely caring and supportive as a therapist and would highly recommend to those looking to start or maintain their personal therapy journey.

Patty is a phenomenal therapist. I had lost hope for therapy because of never being able to “click” with my therapist in the past or not feeling as if they genuinely cared. Patty listens and will mention something that you told her a long time ago, which is great to hear that she is really there and not just counting down the seconds in each therapy session. She has also been very patient and understanding when and if I had to reschedule and very transparent about charging you for less than 24 hours notice. She is a great listener, unbiased, gives great advice, calls you out on things you could have done better (professionally and pleasantly done) and transparent. She’s exactly what I needed and will continue to see her without hesitation.

Jennifer Brizuela

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

The most important ethical principles that I embrace as a social worker are to challenge social issues, provide service to those in need, and value the worth and dignity of people and their respective communities.

I was born in Los Angeles, am a first-generation college graduate, and am bilingual (Spanish). I received my Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of California- Riverside in 2009 with an emphasis on disparities in the medical system. I received my Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California in 2013 and became a licensed clinical social worker in 2018. Prior to this, I worked with families residing in transitional housing and obtained certification as a mental health rehabilitation specialist.

Throughout my 11 years in social services, I have had opportunities to work alongside families involved with child welfare, individuals experiencing homelessness and other psychosocial issues, medical social work and the mental health field. Each experience has been immensely valuable and showed me that every person has their own narrative and strengths. Sometimes, we just need a helping hand to help us process our feelings, stressful events and trauma.

My therapeutic approach involves active listening, is empathic, and judgement free. I strive to provide a safe space where clients can express themselves and feel supported. I strongly believe in acknowledging intersectionality’s and the importance of individual experiences. I have experience in assessments, crisis intervention, short-term therapy, and intensive case management. I have previously worked with children and adults with a history of abuse (physical, sexual, emotional), grief and loss, medical co-morbidities, domestic violence, substance abuse and severe mental health issues.

I hope to create an atmosphere where you are able to stop, breathe, and process. Together we will explore and identify maladaptive coping behaviors, negative automatic thoughts, intergenerational trauma and other areas of concern. I am here to build a trusting relationship with you and begin your journey to your best self.

Connect with Jennifer

Jennifer has dealt with patients and their families at very critical periods in their lives, in crisis due to a medical or traumatic event. She was compassionate and provided the essential emotional and social support needed by our community members. There is no doubt in my mind that she will bring her compassion and social work skills to the clients at your agency!

I have seen Jennifer’s professional development since our time together in graduate school. Jennifer’s passion to serve clients and the community motivated her to pursue a Master of Social Work degree and that passion continues to fuel her work as a therapist. Jennifer understands the importance of quality mental health services and she is committed to providing quality therapeutic services to her clients.

Jennifer and I have been colleagues since 2011. She is the stable rock that grounds people in moments of uncertainty. She has incredible work ethic, which means that she is dedicated to her clients and their wellbeing. She is a fierce advocate and appreciates diversity and culture. She is warm, funny, and kind-hearted, making it easy for people to connect with her. Yet, keeps it real in a gentle way so she helps people grow and get out of their comfort zones.

Jennifer possesses desirable traits of authenticity, being conscientious, hardworking, collaborative, engaging, empathic, and open to new experiences and growth. She would often rise to the occasion of assisting fellow colleagues with crisis appointments and was readily available for consultation. Jennifer maintained a high degree of professionalism in her interactions with clients, families and colleagues and continuously demonstrated effective communication strategies of active listening and problem-solving strategies. Jennifer’s knowledge, experience, high level of professionalism and positive demeanor make her an exceptional colleague.

I supervised Jennifer for several years and she always displayed a passion for her work. She is conscientious, hardworking and responsible and is able to develop a rapport with almost everyone. I am proud of Jennifer’s continued commitment to growth and increasing her clinical skills.

Vanessa Gutierrez

Associate Clinical Social Worker

As a social worker I value integrity. I am sensitive to cultural and social diversity and empower vulnerable populations through self-determination. I have a Master’s Degree in Social Work and a Pupil Personnel Services Credential from California State University, Long Beach. I am registered with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) as an Associate Clinical Social Worker

I have been in the field of social work for the past 5 years and within the educational field cumulatively for 12 years working with vulnerable families

struggling with psychosocial and social issues. My active listening skills can be shown through my ability to connect with others on a deeper level and help them through their process to manage stressful situations. My experience ranges from clients as young as 5years old to older adults suffering from severe mental illnesses.

I have provided individual and group therapy to at-risk clients struggling with academic, social, behavioral, and emotional problems. I use various tools to identify symptoms and implement evidence-based interventions that address clinical symptoms of trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, and other clinical issues. I have experience in crisis intervention and after care plans, partnering with both clients and parents alike. My knowledge within the mental health field also includes providing wraparound services, intensive case management, and assisting clients with various life transitions varying from navigating housing support to vocational and educational linkages.

My goal is to help you understand the fundamental issues that are difficult for you to manage. Using EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing), along with a Cognitive Behavioral approach (CBT), my hope is to create a therapeutic relationship where you are provided with the ability to bounce back from challenges with a stronger sense of self, confidence, and coping capacity to get through adversity. With empathy and active listening, my hope is to build trust and create a unique approach together that works for you to improve your quality of life.

I believe in meaningful connections. I believe that establishing this connection and providing a safe environment for vulnerability is a vital gateway that will support overall growth. With compassion and from a non-judgmental approach, my goal is to support the healing process by understanding the underlying issues causing suffering.

Connect with Vanessa

I met Vanessa in 2016, I was her supervisor during her second year internship. Vanessa has been the best intern I’ve ever had. Vanessa has all the wonderful qualities you would like in an intern and much more. She was always prepared, extremely dependable, willing to learn and grow but above that what I admired and appreciated most was her passion for this work. Vanessa transformed throughout her internship experience as she was willing to be vulnerable and introspective. The work she was willing to do with herself made her an exceptional clinician and someone I knew would do amazing things in the field. I am honored to have been part of this process and am beyond proud of the growth she continues to do for herself not just personally but professionally throughout the years.

Vanessa and I have been colleagues for a couple of years. Although we serve students in different schools, she has always been someone I can depend on for support, consultation, brainstorming, and ideas. The quality I admire the most of Vanessa is the empathy she has for her clients. She always gives 100% to try to understand her clients through her thorough and individualized assessments and shows competence and sensitivity when discussions become personal and deep. It’s not always easy to have in-depth conversations but Vanessa is so personable, warm, and inviting, that she makes it easy to open up. Vanessa always has everyones best interest in mind, whether it’s a client, colleague, friend, or family. She goes above and beyond and is resourceful to meet the needs of the populations she services. Vanessas’ passion lies within mental health and she excels the most when working in this type of professional setting.

Christina Castro

Associate Professional Clinical Counselor

First let me say, seeking therapy is a brave and courageous step and I applaud you for coming this far. I have been in the helping profession for over 6 years. I use Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness, and Solution Focused approaches to help people feel better in their daily lives. Through a culturally sensitive lens, I help children, adolescents and adults work through anxiety, depression, and unhealthy patterns that keep them from feeling their best.

I am an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APPC) in the state of California. I received my Master’s of Science in Educational Counseling with a concentration in School and Family Based Clinical Counseling from the University of LaVerne. I have extensive experience with ASD, ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety, and Depression. I spent years working in the school system with children with moderate to severe developmental disabilities as well as emotional disabilities. Later, I transitioned to working in the juvenile justice system and the child welfare system with adolescents helping them to work through trauma and the impacts of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

I provide a safe space where we can explore the barriers you are experiencing to living the life you desire. Together we will work through the negative thoughts and maladaptive behaviors that are holding you back and getting in the way of moving forward in the direction of your dreams. I will be here to listen with an empathic ear and provide you with feedback and tools to apply to the feelings and behaviors you are struggling with.

My years of working with children, teens, and young adults in the school system, in juvenile detention facilities, and in child welfare agencies have provided me with unique insight into the transformational power of therapy. Let’s work together, collaboratively, to put an effective plan together for you to not just feel better but to grow and evolve into the person you strive to be.

Connect with Christina

I have supervised Christina for over a year. Christina has a unique ability to connect to her clients in a genuine empathic form. She goes above and beyond her basic duties to make sure her clients feel safe, comfortable, and their needs are met in the therapeutic environment.

Diane Orozco

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

I am deeply committed to disrupting intergenerational cycles and the systems of oppression that leave us feeling stuck, insecure, lonely or simply misaligned.

As the daughter of a poor immigrant father from Jalisco, Mexico and Chicana mother from Northeast Los Ángeles I understand and live the complexities of our identities within the Latinx community.

Navigating life with conflicting values and expectations can be a lot to handle. It’s so important for you to have a safe and affirming space to focus on you. As your therapist, we will work collaboratively to build trust and safety in our relationship. I believe the therapeutic relationship is the foundation for deep healing work. My role is to support your healing process. I do this with curiosity, empathy, some humor and a gentle but firm approach. Together, we will work to develop insight, to build on your power, to find your peace and your joy.

To support you in this process, I will incorporate, with a racial justice framework, elements from various therapeutic modalities including EMDR, family systems, attachment, mindfulness, and CBT. My approach to mental health is holistic and I believe that body movement, good nutrition and sleep provide a solid foundation for a healthy mind.

My experience includes parent training, school based services, and outpatient community mental health. I have experience working with youth, adults and families struggling with trauma, complex trauma, anxiety, depression, grief and life transitions. I received a Master’s of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy with a specialization in Trauma Studies from Pacific Oaks College. I am an alumni of the AAMFT (American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) Minority Fellowship Program and a member of CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists).

Meet our Team

Patricia Alvarado, MA

Jennifer Brizuela, LCSW

Vanessa Gutierrez, MSW

Christina Castro, MS

Diane Orozco, MA